Beautiful
Chandini whose name means moonlight reminds you of the
immortal words of Lord Byron, `She walks in beauty,
like the night, Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright, Meet in her
aspect and her eyes’. The actress who is just
two films old has played contrasting characters in both.
Her debut film Sidhu Plus 2 has her in an effervescent
role while Padithurai shows her in serious vein. We
meet the actress and she opens up on her first taste
of fame, working with the legendary director Bhagyaraj
and more.

How
did you get the opportunity to enter the film industry?

My entry into films happened just after I had completed
my school and during my holidays when I was free at
home. My parents saw an ad in the paper for a beauty
pageant called Miss Chennai and they asked me to give
it a shot. I won Ms. Photogenic and was flooded with
many offers to act.

What did you learn
from the contest?

It was very informative and helped me improve my personality,
body language, confidence level and communication skills,
It completely transformed me. There was a lot of difference
from the Chandini who finished school and the one who
entered college. It really helped me, I was a better
person.

How did you get
the opportunity to work with Director Bhagyaraj?

Bhagyaraj Sir was planning to do a film with Shanthanoo.
Poornima aunty called me and asked me to just come for
a screen test. Since I got an offer from Bhagyaraj Sir,
I wanted to at least say hello to him and went to his
office. He gave me a dialogue to speak and I casually
and easily repeated it. He was very surprised and he
told me you have to work on your body language but for
a first time, you have done it very boldly. He told
me that he would tell me in a few days and I waited
for his call. Then he told me I was selected and I could
not say no to the offer.

What do you think
is the reason he selected you?

He felt that the character had to be innocent and that
was the major reason. He wanted someone natural, where
the acting would not look like acting. I was casual
since I did not know anything about shooting or acting
and he liked that the best. My role is that of a naïve
girl who comes from a small town and I fit the bill
well.

What was your education?
Have you taken any formal training in acting?

I never went behind cinema, it just happened. And coming
from Bhagyaraj’s school, I was completely molded
as an actor; he taught me the little nuances of acting.
Everyday my experience was very new. In Sidhu, my character
was almost equal to the hero. Though it’s a commercial
film, the heroine has enough importance. I have completed
my Visual Communication from Ethiraj Collge.

Were there any
tough scenes to handle?

There were many especially the first scene where the
hero proposes to me. It was difficult to apply glycerin
and act as it was the first time but it came out really
well.

Shanthanoo is a cool dude and we are of the same age
group and things were quite jolly. He is a senior actor,
he has done Sakkarakatti and others, and he has taught
me a lot. He has no ego and very friendly to work with.

Shanthanoo always plays pranks

Was
there any interesting prank on the sets?

Shanthanoo always plays pranks; there was never
a day when he spared me. It was a very fun-loving
set, a family atmosphere.

What is your best moment?

Every moment was nice especially the first day of my
shoot. The director was so confident and we shot on
the road and I had a lot of dialogues. He said I could
do it, though I was a bit tense. I had about one and
half pages of dialogue which I spoke while traveling
by road and it was very challenging. I was very happy
that for a first timer, I had done a good job.

How did you feel
the first time you saw yourself on screen?

The first time I saw myself on screen was at the audio
launch and I was very happy. Seeing me on screen was
a big thing. Big celebrities like Vijay sir were there
and I was very happy.

What did Bhagyaraj
tell you at the end of the film?

He really liked it and told my parents that I had done
very well and I have a great future. He was very comfortable
with me and said he never felt that I was a newcomer
and that was a great compliment coming from him.

What
is your take on glamour?

Glamour is pretty important.
I wouldn’t say that there needs to be
no glamour but it should be within my comfort
levels. I am not interested in very glamorous
roles.

Glamour is pretty important

How did you get the opportunity for your next film Padithurai?

I had finished the dubbing of Sidhu and I got a call
from Arya Sir saying that they were making this film.
I was very happy as this my second film gave me scope
for performance. In Sidhu I play a bubbly girl but in
Padithurai, my character is more serious as it is realistic
film. It’s very nice to get a role like this.

What is your role
in Padithurai like?

In Padithurai, I have a homely role with the nativity
of Tirunelveli. I don’t speak much and have a
lot of silent shots. It’s a very homely role and
offered good scope for performance.

The Tirunelveli dialect in

Padithurai was tough to speak

Have
you dubbed for your films?

Yes, for both my films. The Tirunelveli dialect
in Padithurai was tough to speak. I acted easily
but dubbing was tough as they were very keen on
every dialogue. It helped me as an actor and I
was very happy I could dub for myself.

How was it working with director Suka?

Suka Sir had worked with Balu Mahendra Sir and it was
his first film. However, it did not feel like that because
he planned everything he had to shoot well and it was
moving at a very fast pace. Whatever he wanted, he brought
it out from me. Though it was a very serious film, he
handled me properly and brought the emotion out right.
I am happy Padithurai has turned out well.

Was there any difficult
scene in Padithurai?

Padithurai itself was difficult because it’s not
me. I have grown up and studied in Chennai but dubbing
in Tirunelveli dialect, changing the way I walk and
talk like a girl from Tirunelveli was a challenge. I
had to change my body language which was tough.

What was enjoyable
about the film?

Everything was enjoyable, especially the second half
where there is a transformation in my characterization.
I completely enjoyed it.

Will
you work for Bhagyaraj Sir again?

Yes, because the experience
of working with him in one film is equal to
having worked in 10 films. I learnt so much
from him. There were small things I never understood
at that time but later especially while acting
in Padithurai, I applied a lot of what he taught
me. In Sidhu, I could not apply it too much
but did it in Padithurai. It really makes a
difference when you work with a good director
in your first film. It helps you and you are
molded really well.

one film is equal to having

worked in 10 films

Sidhu + 2 is completely

commercial while Padithurai is

realistic

What
is the difference in working styles between both
directors?

The working style is the same; there was no difference
as both know what they want. Though Suka Sir was
doing his first film, he knew exactly what he
wanted. Only thing both are completely different
films. Sidhu + 2 is completely commercial while
Padithurai is realistic.

You don’t
have any problems doing realistic films?

It’s really not about doing realistic or commercial
films, but if I have a good character and it has something
I like, a strong role, I will definitely do any kind
of film. I don’t want to categories myself.

How was it working
with Abiram in Padithurai?

Abiram is doing his first film, it was a good experience.
It never felt like working with a first-timer.

Any interesting
incidents while shooting Padithurai?

Padithurai did not have interesting incidents as we
shot more outdoors. It was nice. It was not as much
a jolly film as Sidhu but a different atmosphere since
this was the first time I traveled to Tirunelveli.

What is your style
quotient like?

I generally dress up very casually like a college student
and wear jeans and T-shirt.

Do you have a dream
role?

Cinema just happened. I have no dream role but I want
to pick up good roles, something which makes good sense.

Who are the actresses
you admire?

I admire Sridevi a lot; she’s wonderful and very
versatile. I like her.

What about heroes?

Rajini Sir always.

What are the kind
of qualities aspiring actresses should have?

All upcoming actresses should be hard-working. Hard-work
is the key, there is no shortcut. One should have a
lot of patience, everything does not happen easily.
If you work hard you can reach heights.

What
do you like about Behindwoods?

Behindwoods is a very interesting
website and I always log on to it. What I like
is that it’s easy to use and updates are
quick, even in a single day there are 4-5 updates.
Everyone should look into Behindwoods because
their updates and reviews are so nice and perfect.

Everyone should look into

Behindwoods because their

updates and reviews are so nice

and perfect

What are your future
plans?

I just finished My Viscomm and I have 2 films coming
up. I am going slow; I have not committed films in a
hurry. Let us see what happens.